Stucco repair costs in Charleston

Charleston has written rules for old stucco, and they're specific. In the city's historic districts, the Board of Architectural Review's guidelines say to repair stucco with stucco that matches the original in strength, color, texture and composition, and to keep as much of the original as you can. New stucco should never go on over existing stucco. If you can still see a scoring pattern, the lines that make a wall read as cut stone, the new work should copy it.

Some common shortcuts are off the table. You can't stucco masonry that shows no sign of ever having it. Historic stucco that was never painted should stay unpainted, because its patina is often part of the building's character. Waterproof coatings on historic stucco aren't permitted, and neither are elastomeric or "waterproof" paints. Before you hire, ask the crew whether they've worked under the board's guidelines, and how they pick a mix for an old wall.

The harbor adds its own pressure. During Irma in September 2017, the storm tide in Charleston Harbor peaked at 9.92 feet above mean lower low water, the third highest on record at the time. Tidal flooding is a different problem from rain. When salt water stands against the base of an old wall, it's worth having a mason look at the lowest few feet once everything dries out.